Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is reportedly weighing up a January swoop for Alexis Sanchez following the injury to Gabriel Jesus.
According to a report by Daily Mail, Manchester City are considering the possibility of signing Alexis Sanchez in the winter transfer window after losing Gabriel Jesus for two months. The Premier League leaders though, will have to compromise and shell out £35 million to land the Arsenal attacker.
Sanchez has been a key figure for Arsenal since he moved to the North London club from Barcelona in the summer of 2014. The same has been exemplified this season, which has arguably been his worst in an Arsenal shirt, with the player being the most prolific contributor for the Gunners.
Sanchez has visibly not looked the part for most of the campaign following a failed deadline day move to Manchester City in the summer, but he still has eight 8 and 4 assists in 21 appearances – more than any other Arsenal player. But, poor form has done nothing to sway the interest of his suitors.
Manchester City will make a decision over next few days whether to bid for Alexis Sánchez. They are likely to make a £25m bid, but could go up to £35m if necessary. (Source: Daily Mail) pic.twitter.com/g8AAEMJLdS
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) January 4, 2018
Manchester City still remain in pursuit of Sanchez, with the most recent reports suggesting that they are ready to sign him for free in the summer and offer the player a lucrative deal as well. But, they could now be forced to make a move for the Chilean forward a little earlier than planned.
Gabriel Jesus sustained a knee ligament injury on New Year’s Eve, which has rendered him out of action for the next two months at the very least. The Brazilian’s absence leaves Manchester City with just one fit striker in Sergio Aguero as a busy February – potentially featuring fixtures from all four competitions – awaits them.
Manager Pep Guardiola has already iterated that the Premier League leaders could enter the market this month, although signing anyone will be difficult. Manchester City though, are ready to test Arsenal’s resolve by tabling a bid for Sanchez, who has excelled as a striker previously.
Arsenal, on the other hand, are keeping their options open and are scouring for possible replacements, with the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Hirving Lozano and others linked. But, ideally, Arsene Wenger would like to retain the player till the end of the season, at the very least – a prospect that looks bleak, taking into account the injury to Gabriel Jesus.
What the Premier League leaders might have to do is compromise on their valuation of the player, with Arsenal – whose court the ball is in at the moment – only willing to consider offers of £35 million. With Manchester City in a precarious situation currently, they might just have to budge and meet the valuation.
It now remains to be seen if they indeed make a move for Sanchez this month, or if they take a risk with just Aguero for the next two months.
